Power regulation device for model railway system
a technology of power regulation device and model railway, which is applied in the direction of electric variable regulation, process and machine control, instruments, etc., can solve the problem that the function that requires these signals may not be available on a model railroad that uses 60 hz power
Inactive Publication Date: 2010-10-12
MAIER LAWRENCE C +1
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Benefits of technology
"The power regulation device described in this patent is designed for use in model railway systems. It receives a digital command control (DCC) waveform and a track section to be powered by the DCC waveform. The device measures the current flow associated with the DCC waveform and controls a switch to disconnect the supply of the DCC waveform when a true over-current condition is detected. The device also has an auto-reversing function to accommodate reverse loop track sections. The controller is capable of distinguishing temporary surges from true over-current conditions that warrant tripping the circuit breaker function of the device. The power regulation device may also be designed to receive a power input consisting of a 50 or 60 Hz AC waveform."
Problems solved by technology
Since these systems do not incorporate provisions for the use of DCC signals, functions that require these signals may not be available on a model railroad that uses 60 Hz power.
Method used
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[0013]FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary model train / railway system in which including the power regulation device of the present invention may be used. The power regulation device is shown at reference numerals 100 and 100′, where power regulation device 100′ has all of the power management functions of device 100, but also has auto-reversing functions. A power shield device 100 connects to respective mainline track sections 10 and 20, whereas a power regulation device 100′ connects to respective reverse loop track sections 30 and 40. The power regulation devices 100 and 100′ each have first and second (differential) input terminals that connect to the first and second output terminals of a digital command control (DCC) power unit 50. The power unit 50 outputs differential DCC signals DCC1 and DCC2. The power regulation devices also have first and second output terminals that connect to respective rails of their associated track sections as shown in FIG. 1.
[0014...
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A power regulation device and method for a model railway system is provided. The device comprises inputs that connect to a supply of a digital command control (DCC) waveform and to a track section to be powered by the DCC waveform. The device comprises a current measuring circuit that measures current flow associated with the DCC waveform supplied at the inputs. A switch is connected between the inputs and outputs that are in turn connected to respective rails of the track section. A controller is provided that analyzes a current measurement signal produced by the current measuring circuit and controls the switch to disconnect supply of the DCC waveform to the outputs when a true over-current condition is detected. The device may also comprise an auto-reversing function to accommodate reverse loop track sections.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 790,827, filed Apr. 11, 2006, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Powered model railway systems (such as model railroads) that use a digital command control (DCC) signal are prone to short-circuit and overload conditions that interrupt operation of the railway system or damage expensive power supplies and / or electrical components. The potential for track shorts increases as the number of operators on a system increases. Several solutions have been proposed to address the problem of track short circuits. Ballast lamps, relays, and kill switches have been used with limited success.[0003]Some overloads conditions are caused by large capacitors used in sound system decoders. The overload condition appears as a short circuit until the capacitors in the decoders are charged. These types of overload conditions are short-lived and do not ca...
Claims
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IPC IPC(8): B61D17/00
CPCG05F1/66
Inventor MAIER, LAWRENCE C.PARISI, ANTHONY R.
Owner MAIER LAWRENCE C